Spirit Seals God's Promise

Ephesians 1:13-14 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

There is one additional aspect of the baptism with the Holy Spirit that needs to be addressed. The scripture quoted above clearly states that the Holy Spirit has been given to believers for two specific purposes. First, we are "sealed" by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. Second, the Holy Spirit is given to us as a "guarantee" of our inheritance.

Being sealed with the Holy Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance are different expressions for the same event, as both occur simultaneously. The scripture teaches that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, who is given to us as our guarantee.

This raises an important question: When are we sealed with the Holy Spirit? Does this occur at the moment we are born again, or does it happen when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit? The apostle Paul provides clarity on this matter when he refers to the Holy Spirit as "the Holy Spirit of promise" in the passage above.

Acts 2:33 “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear”.

In the scripture quoted above, it is evident that the "promise of the Holy Spirit" refers specifically to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Clearly, it is not at the moment of being born again, but rather at the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise and receive Him as the guarantee of their inheritance. This implies that believers who have not yet been baptized with the Holy Spirit have not been sealed with the Holy Spirit and do not possess Him as the guarantee of their inheritance.

Romans 4:3-11 “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness."  … (11) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.” 

What is the implication for a believer who is sealed versus one who has not yet been sealed? The scripture quoted above provides clarity. It explains that when Abraham believed God, his faith was accounted to him as righteousness. At that moment, Abraham was considered righteous in God's sight. Later, he received from God the “sign” of circumcision, which served as the “seal” of the righteousness he had already obtained through faith. This passage illustrates that circumcision was the visible, outward sign and seal confirming that Abraham belonged to God.

1 Corinthians 14:21-22 “In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord.  (22) Therefore, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.”

In a similar manner to Abraham, we become the righteousness of God when we are born again. Afterward, we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a “sign” of the righteousness we have already obtained in Christ Jesus. This baptism serves as the “seal” of our righteousness and the guarantee of our inheritance. It is through being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues that we experience the tangible, supernatural power of God. Speaking in tongues is a visible, outward sign to ourselves and others that we belong to God, aligning with scripture, which states that tongues are a sign for unbelievers.

This concept aligns with the idea of a guarantee. In the natural sense, a guarantee is often represented by a signed document promising a specific outcome. Similarly, when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues becomes tangible evidence of the inheritance promised to us in Christ Jesus. While Paul acknowledged that tongues would eventually cease, this will only happen when the "perfect" comes—our full inheritance in Christ. In this age, we merely receive a foretaste of what is to come, and that foretaste serves as God's guarantee of our promised inheritance.

It’s important to note that while those who are born again have the Holy Spirit residing in them through the new birth, there is no tangible evidence of His indwelling. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, however, is a tangible experience, setting it apart from the indwelling of the Spirit at the moment of salvation. Therefore, those who are born again but have not yet been baptized with the Holy Spirit have not received the seal and guarantee of the Spirit. Nonetheless, this experience remains available to them whenever they are ready to receive it.

Interestingly, the Roman Catholic Church, likely the oldest Christian denomination, practices a rite called confirmation. According to the Catholic Catechism, confirmation involves receiving a spiritual seal and the pledge of the Holy Spirit. The catechism refers to Acts 8:14-17, where Peter and John laid hands on the believers in Samaria to receive the Holy Spirit, as the scriptural basis for this practice. While this practice has become a religious ordinance in the Catholic Church, it reflects the early church's understanding of the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the moment a believer is sealed into the kingdom of God.

One crucial truth to recognize is that once God seals us, we cannot be sealed again, which underscores the fact that there is only one baptism of the Holy Spirit. This sealing is a definitive act, marking the believer's entrance into the fullness of God's promises.

Michael E.B. Maher

Holy Spirit Encounters

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